This was the kind of movie that, regardless of genre, I wish Hollywood made more of. It was original, unpretentious, and of very good overall quality.
Co-written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, a virtual unknown, and produced by über-wunderkind Peter Jackson (him of The Lord of the Rings), District 9 is part movie, part fake-documentary. It tells the story of a guy who, put in charge of a sensitive evacuation operation, ends up paying a high personal price but also making new friends in the process.
Newcomer Sharlto Copley plays the part of the trapped fugitive very convincingly, aided by incredibly good visual effects, given the low budget. The makeup is very good as well, as are the creative weapons the filmmakers have conjured up.
A nice touch was that, like many movies nowadays, this one had a built-in sequel, but the setup was so subtle that it wasn’t bothersome in the least. And the movie was so well made that I’m actually hopeful they will make a follow-up.
District 9 just earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination and I have to admit that at first I was puzzled by such a choice. But then I realized that, given its originality and high quality, it actually did deserve the distinction of a nomination.
While at first there were rumors that a product like Star Trek, which had successfully rebooted the venerable franchise, might make the cut, I’m glad District 9 got the nod instead, as artistically speaking it is a more deserving motion picture.
Definitely a must see for any sci-fi fan out there, but a movie worth seeing by all.
Grade: 8
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